A 50-year-old pastor, Emmanuel Mathew, appeared on Wednesday, before an FCT High Court for allegedly raping three pupils in a school at Mpape, Abuja.

Mathew, who is the pastor and general overseer of The Choice Bible Church, Mpape, and proprietor of the primary school where his victims schooled, was arraigned on a five-count charge.

The prosecutor, DSP Stanley Nwodo, told the court that the accused raped two 7-year-olds and a nine-year-old pupil on different occasions in the school, adding that the offence contravened Section 283 of the Penal Code, and if convicted, the accused would be sentenced to 14-years imprisonment, an option of fine or both.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After arraignment, the counsel to the accused, Mr Uya Yamah, urged the court to admit his client to bail which was granted by the prosecutor being that the accused had been on administrative bail.

In his ruling, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N500,000 and a surety in like sum, while he adjourned the case till January 21, 2014.